Lithuania must find a way to coexist with Belarus, says parliament speaker

Lithuania will need to find a way to coexist with the current regime in Belarus, Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas told Žinių Radijas radio on Tuesday, as reported by ELTA.

While acknowledging the need for pragmatic engagement, Olekas stressed that Vilnius must maintain ties and support democratic forces in Belarus.

“It’s not just black and white—we can’t give one side everything and the other nothing. We will have to find some way to coexist with the current regime, but we must also look to the future, ensuring that the democratic forces in Belarus maintain their relationship with us,” Olekas said.

He described Belarus as a “complex” country, currently under authoritarian rule but also home to democratic movements that Lithuania should engage with.

Olekas emphasized that Lithuania must prioritize security concerns, including border protection, preventing disruptions to civil aviation from balloons, and halting migrant flows. He added that Lithuania should ultimately seek good neighborly relations with a democratic Belarus.

“Our focus and support should go to the democratic forces in Belarus, which will eventually lead the country,” he said.

Social Democrat Ruslanas Baranovas previously told Delfi that Lithuania needs diplomatic cooperation channels with Belarus.

ELTA recalled that in March, US Special Envoy to Belarus John Coale suggested Lithuania should hold bilateral talks with Minsk at the deputy foreign minister level. Coale also argued that potash fertilizers from Belarus should transit through Lithuania, opening access to European and US markets.

President Gitanas Nausėda has stated that dialogue with Belarus would only be possible if Minsk demonstrates a genuine willingness to foster neighborly relations and stops threatening Lithuania. So far, he said, no such signs have been observed.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė told LRT.lt that Lithuania would consider the US envoy’s proposal for deputy minister-level talks with Belarus only if Minsk meets Vilnius’ conditions: halting smuggling balloons across the border, returning all detained Lithuanian trucks without additional fees or fines, and stopping illegal migrant crossings.